Best Dog Track In Florida?

Daytona Beach is a great place to visit in the winter. The sun is shining, the ocean is beautiful and there's the Daytona 500 track and information center to visit. And right next to the Daytona 500, actually in the parking lot, there used to be a little old dog track.

It was nice, but I always thought it was kind of a strange place to put a greyhound track. Someone else must have thought so too, because they tore it down and built a new facility about 3 miles up the road on Williamson Blvd.

I was pretty excited when I heard about it, but even more interested when I read that it was going to be the first certified LEED greyhound park in the world. To be certified by LEED, you have to build so as to reduce your impact on the environment, which is a very good idea in Florida.

Well, not only did they do that to the point where the toilets in the rest rooms give you a choice of how much water to flush with, but they've made a place that makes "going to the dogs" a great experience, and a very comfortable one.

Inside, there are plenty of large screen TV's showing the live racing and the simulcasts from the best greyhound and horse tracks around the country. I was there on Breeder's Cup Day and there was a big crowd, but I still saw every minute of the races.

There are seats for the live racing inside and also a nice area for dining and watching the races. If you just want to bet on simulcasts, there's even a separate room with many, many screens and betting machines and also totes.

Also outside - and this is my favorite way to watch the races - there are Adirondack chairs so you can sit back and really relax with two cupholders on each chair for your drink. And the arms are nice and big and flat, so you can go over your program on it.

Unfortunately, on the day I went, there were way too many "T" races. I'd rather see races where the dogs are picked by draw, rather than by the racing secretary, but they were good races nonetheless.

I was able to bet without getting shut out and even got a hot dog and a drink without standing in line for more than a couple of minutes and the people who work there seem to be very friendly and helpful. I went there on a Saturday and there was a mix of family groups and serious bettors.

If you get a chance, visit Daytona Beach Kennel Club and don't forget to recycle your program in the bins they have for it there. Also, on the way out, check out the gift shop where you can buy items and have the money benefit retired greyhounds. They deserve it after all the pleasure they've given us with their racing efforts.